A group of volunteers from the Fort spent a weekend in Banff, not as tourists but to get educated and mingle.

The Fort Saskatchewan Victim Services Unit was one of 126 units across the province to attend a bi-annual conference in Banff from Apr.5-8.

“We learned about some of the awesome things that victim services units deal with on a daily basis. Everybody got a chance to go to sessions that interested them as well as some wellness sessions to sort of recharge and be refreshed, so it was a lot of fun,” said the Fort’s victim services unit program manager Lauren Reid.

Information sessions included delivery and impact of a death notification, bullying, vicarious trauma, the realities of violence against women and more.

Reid described the information as heavy, but useful.

“It’s important for a couple of reasons; one is education, just to keep our unit up on the latest trends and information, but also to send our volunteers because essentially they’re the backbone of our program. They need to feel like they’re empowered and informed and also appreciated,” said Reid.

She took 10 volunteers, a couple board members and their RCMP liaison member to the event.

The conference is hosted by the Alberta Police Based Victim Services Association and saw more than 900 people attend.

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